James Kirkup is The Telegraph's Executive Editor (Politics). He was previously the Telegraph's Political Editor and has worked at Westminster since 2001.

Embattled Brown will look further afield

Prime Ministers in trouble at home can always resort to foreign affairs:Â talking about international diplomacy, war and peace and the future of the world helps voters put local scandals and travails in perspective.Â So look out for Gordon Brown taking a renewed interest in the world.

Afghanistan will be Brown's next focal point

A new National Security Strategy, integrating foreign and domestic policy to ward off everything from al-Qaeda to global warming, is just around the corner.Â And later this month, the PM will make a statement to the Commons on Afghanistan, which is today reported to be having its "bloodiest year" since the fall of the Taliban. With nearly 8,000 British troops in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister's "strategy" statement is long-awaited by military commanders.Â I'm told by an exasperated official that the forthcoming strategy was supposed to set out in July, but has been repeatedly delayed, to the considerable irriatation of our generals.

Still, one point of cheer for British forces in Afghanistan is their growing confidence that Paddy Ashdown is finally prepared to accept a new job asÂ joint UN-Nato envoyÂ in the country. Lord Ashdown, a former Royal Marine, is publicly coy about the post, but has recently been holding quiet meetings with old comrades now serving in Afghanistan, sounding them out about conditions on the ground.